Lecture 2

Differentiation Rules/ Formulas

1.1 The Derivative

Given y=f (x ), the corresponding value of y depends on the chosen fixed value of x . Now, we choose
another value of x , differing from that of the first on by some value which will now be called the
increment of x , denoted by ∆ x . These increment in x , which is ∆ x , there will be a new value of y .
Therefore, when x changes to a value x +∆ x , y changes to a value y +∆ y ,and

y +∆ y =f ( x +∆ x )

∆ y =f ( x +∆ x )−f (x)

∆y
Looking at the ratio . Let’s try to see how this ratio behave as ∆ x approaches zero. Since f (x) is
∆x
continuous, the ∆ y also approaches zero. In the figure below, let the curve AB represent the graph of the
given function. In the graph, the slope of the line joining points P(x , y ) and P '( x +∆ x , y+ ∆ y) is the

∆y
ratio . As ∆ x approaches zero, P ' approaches P along the curve. Consequently the line PP'
∆x

∆y
approaches a straight line PT as a limiting position. This means that the ratio approaches a limit,
∆x
which is the slope of the line PT . This limit is called the derivative of y with respect to x .
 ∆y
The derivative of y with respect to x is the limit of the ratio when ∆ x approaches zero.
∆x

dy ' ' d
The symbol of the derivative is . Other symbols are y , f ( x ) , f ( x ).
dx dx

dy ∆y f ( x+ ∆ x )−f (x)
= lim = lim
dx ∆ x→ 0 ∆ x ∆ x→ 0 ∆x

The operation of finding the derivative is called differentiation.

Steps to determine the derivative of the function:

1. Replace x by x +∆ x and y +∆ y

y=f ( x ) , Equation 1
y +∆ y =f ( x +∆ x ) Equation 2
2. Eliminate y using Equation 1 and 2

∆ y =f ( x +∆ x )−f (x) Equation 3

3. Divide both sides of Equation 3 by ∆ x .

∆ y f ( x+ ∆ x )−f ( x )
=
∆x ∆x

4. Determine the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero.

Examples

Differentiate the following functions.

1. y=4 x 2−3 x−2

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =4 ( x + ∆ x )2−3 ( x +∆ x )−2

Step 2. ∆ y =4 ( x + ∆ x )2−3 ( x +∆ x )−2−( 4 x 2−3 x−2)

¿ 4 x2 +8 x ∆ x+ 4 ( ∆ x )2−3 x−3 ∆ x −2−4 x2 +3 x +2

 2
¿ 8 x ∆ x+ 4 ( ∆ x ) −3 ∆ x

∆y
Step 3. =8 x+ 4 ∆ x−3
∆x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y
= lim (8 x+ 4 ∆ x−3)
∆ x ∆ x→ 0

y ' =8 x−3

2. y=x 3−5 x +2

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =( x+ ∆ x )3 −5 ( x + ∆ x ) +2

Step 2. ∆ y =( x+ ∆ x )3 −5 ( x + ∆ x ) +2−( x 3−5 x +2)

¿ ( x+ ∆ x ) (x ¿ ¿2+2 x ∆ x+ ( ∆ x )2 )−5 x−5 ∆ x +2−x 3 +5 x−2 ¿

3 2 2 2 2 2 3
¿ x + 2 x ∆ x+ x ( ∆ x ) + x ∆ x +2 x ( ∆ x ) + ( ∆ x ) −5 x−5 ∆ x+ 2−x + 5 x−2

¿ 3 x 2 ∆ x +3 x ( ∆ x )2 + ( ∆ x )2−5 ∆ x

∆y
Step 3. =3 x 2+3 x ∆ x+ ∆ x−5
∆x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y
= lim ( 3 x 2 +3 x ∆ x + ∆ x −5)
∆ x ∆ x→ 0

y '=3 x 2−5

1
3. y=
x +7

Solution:

1
Step 1. y +∆ y =
x + ∆ x +7
 1 1
Step 2. ∆ y = −
x +∆ x +7 x +7

x +7−( x + ∆ x +7)
¿
( x + ∆ x +7)( x +7)

x +7−( x + ∆ x +7)
¿
( x + ∆ x +7)( x +7)

−∆ x
¿
( x +∆ x +7)(x+ 7)

∆y −1
Step 3. =
∆ x ( x +∆ x +7)( x+7)

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y −1
= lim ( )
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 (x+ ∆ x+7)(x +7)

−1
y'=
( x+7 )2

4. y= √ 2−3 x

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =√ 2−3( x +∆ x )

Step 2. ∆ y =√ 2−3( x +∆ x )−√ 2−3 x

¿ √ 2−3(x + ∆ x )−√ 2−3 x

¿ √ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x− √ 2−3 x

¿ ( √ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x− √ 2−3 x ) ( √√ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x + √ 2−3 x

2−3 x−3 ∆ x + √ 2−3 x )

¿ ( √ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x− √ 2−3 x ) ( √√ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x + √ 2−3 x

2−3 x−3 ∆ x + √ 2−3 x )

x−3 ∆ x )−(2−3 x)
¿ ( (2−3
√2−3 x−3 ∆ x+ √2−3 x )
 ¿ ( √ 2−3 x−3−3∆∆xx+√ 2−3 x )
∆y −3
Step 3. =
∆ x √ 2−3 x −3 ∆ x+ √ 2−3 x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y −3
= lim ( )
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 √ 2−3 x−3 ∆ x + √ 2−3 x

−3
y'=
2 √2−3 x

5. y=3 x− √ x

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =3 ( x+ ∆ x ) −√ x + ∆ x

Step 2. ∆ y =3 ( x + ∆ x ) −√ x + ∆ x −3 x + √ x

¿ 3 ( x+ ∆ x )−√ x+ ∆ x−3 x+ √ x

( 3 ∆ x + √ x )+ √ x + ∆ x
¿ ( 3 ∆ x− √ x +∆ x + √ x )
( ( 3 ∆ x + √ x )+ √ x + ∆ x )
2
( 3 ∆ x + √ x ) −x−∆ x
¿
(
( 3 ∆ x + √ x )+ √ x + ∆ x )
9 ( ∆ x )2 +6 ∆ x √ x + x−x−∆ x
¿
( ( 3 ∆ x +√ x ) +√ x + ∆ x )
9 ( ∆ x )2 +6 ∆ x √ x−∆ x
¿
(
( 3 ∆ x+ √ x ) + √ x+ ∆ x )
∆y 9 ∆ x+ 6 √ x−1
Step 3. =
∆ x ( 3 ∆ x+ √ x ) + √ x+ ∆ x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y 9 ∆ x+6 √ x−1
= lim
(
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 ( 3 ∆ x + √ x ) + √ x + ∆ x )
∆y 6 √ x−1
= lim (
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 √ x + √ x )
∆y 6 √ x−1
= lim (
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 2 √ x )
1
y ' =3−
2√x

1.2 Derivative Interpreted as a Slope

The equation of the line of slope m is

y=mx+b

Then

y +∆ y =m ( x +∆ x ) +b

∆ y =m ( x +∆ x ) +b−mx−b

∆ y =m ∆ x

∆y
=m
∆x

y ' =m Equation 4
Equation 4 means that the derivative of the function is identical with the slope of the function.

1.3 Rate of Change

 ∆y
The ratio is defined as the rate of change of y corresponding to the given value of x , or the
∆x
instantaneous rate:

dy ∆y
= lim =rate of change of y with respect ¿ x
dx ∆ x→ 0 ∆ x

The derivative of a function is identical with its rate of change and that the three quantities – derivative,
slope of graph and rate of change are equal to each other.

Examples

For examples 1-3, find the slope of the curve at the given point.

1. y=2−x 2 , ( 3 ,−7 )

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =2−( x +∆ x )2

Step 2. ∆ y =2−( x +∆ x )2−2+ x 2

¿ 2−x 2−2 x ∆ x−( ∆ x )2−2+ x 2

∆y
Step 3. =−2 x−∆ x
∆x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y
= lim (−2 x−∆ x)
∆ x ∆ x→ 0

y ' =−2 x

At (3 ,−7)

y ' =−2 ( 3 )=−6

Therefore, the slope of the given curve at (3 ,−7) is -6.

2. y=2 x 3−3 x ,(−1,1)

Solution:

Step 1. y +∆ y =2 ( x + ∆ x )3−3 ( x+ ∆ x)

Step 2. ∆ y =2 ( x + ∆ x )3−3 ( x +∆ x )−2 x 3+ 3 x

¿ 2( x 3 +3 x2 ∆ x +3 x ( ∆ x )2 + ( ∆ x )3)−3 ( x + ∆ x )−2 x 3 +3 x

2 2 3
¿ 6 x ∆ x +6 x ( ∆ x ) +2 ( ∆ x ) −3 ( ∆ x )

∆y
Step 3. =6 x 2+ 6 x ∆ x +2 ( ∆ x )2−3
∆x

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y
= lim ( 6 x2 +6 x ∆ x+ 2 ( ∆ x )2−3)
∆ x ∆ x→ 0

y ' =6 x 2−3

At (−1 , 1)

y ' =6 (−1 )2−3=3

Therefore, the slope of the given curve at (−1,1) is 3.

1
3. y= , (−2 ,−1 )
x +1

Solution:

1
Step 1. y +∆ y =
x + ∆ x +1

1 1
Step 2. ∆ y = −
x +∆ x +1 x+1

( x +1 )−( x +∆ x +1)
¿
x+ ∆ x+1
 ∆x
¿
x + ∆ x+1

∆y 1
Step 3. =
∆ x x + ∆ x +1

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆y 1
= lim (
∆ x ∆ x→ 0 x +∆ x +1 )
1
y'=
x+1

At (−2 ,−1)

1
y'= =−1
−2+1

Therefore, the slope of the given curve at (−2 ,−1) is -1.

4. The radius of a sphere, initially zero, increases at the rate of 6 ft. per sec. Find how fast the volume is
increasing after ¼ sec.

Solution:

The volume of the sphere is

4
V = π r3
3

4 3
Step 1. V + ∆V = π ( r + ∆ r )
3

4 3 4 3
Step 2. ∆ V = π ( r + ∆ r ) − πr
3 3

4 4
¿ π (r 3 +3 r 2 ∆ r +3 r ( ∆ r )2+ ( ∆ r )3 )− π r 3
3 3
3
2 2 4
¿ 4 πr ∆ r + 4 πr ( ∆ r ) + π ( ∆ r )
3
 2
∆V 2 4
Step 3. =4 πr + 4 πr ∆ r + π ( ∆ r )
∆r 3

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

2
∆V 4
(
= lim 4 πr 2 + 4 πr ∆ r+ π ( ∆ r )
∆ r ∆r→0 3 )
∆V
=4 πr 2
∆r

∆V ∆r
∆t
=4 πr 2
∆t ( )
Since the radius increases at a rate of 6 ft per sec ., after ¼ sec the radius is 6 x ¼ = 1.5 ft. Therefore, from
the equation above we get,

∆V
=4 π (1.5)2 ( 6 )=169.646 f t 3 / sec
∆t

rate of change of volume with respect to time rate of change of radius with respect to time
60000 30
50000 25
40000 20
30000 15
20000 10
10000 5
0 0
0 4 8 2 6 2 4 8 2 6 4 4 0 4 8 2 6 2 4 8 2 6 4 4
0. 0. 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 0. 0. 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4.

5. The dimensions of a box are b , b+1 , b+ 4. Find how fast the total surface area A increases as b
increases.

Solution:

A=2 [ ( b )( b +1 )+ ( b+1 ) ( b+4 ) + ( b+ 4 )( b ) ]

A=2 ( b2 +b+b 2+ 5 b+4 +b2 + 4 b )

A=2 ( 3 b 2+ 10 b+4 )

A=6 b2 +20 b+8

Step 1. A+ ∆ A=6 ( b+ ∆ b )2 +20 ( b+ ∆ b ) +8

Step 2. ∆ A=6 ( b+ ∆ b )2 +20 ( b+ ∆ b ) +8−6 b2−20b−8

¿ 6( b2 +2 b ∆ b+ ( ∆ b )2)+20 ( b+ ∆ b ) +8−6 b 2−20 b−8

¿ 6 b2 +12 b ∆ b+ 6 ( ∆ b )2 +20 b+ 20 ∆ b+8−6 b2 −20 b−8

2
¿ 12 b ∆ b+6 ( ∆ b ) +20 ∆ b

∆A
Step 3. =12 b+6 ∆ b+20
∆b

Step 4. Finding the limit as ∆ x approaches to zero will result to

∆A
= lim ( 12 b+6 ∆ b+20 )
∆ b ∆ b→ 0

∆A
=12 b+20
∆b

dA
Therefore, the total surface area of the box increases at a rate of =12 b+ 20.
db

Exercises

Differentiate the following functions.

1 6. v=√ a2− y 2
1. y=
4−x
1
1 7. y=
2. y=2−3 x− √ x−2
x
t
3. y=3 t 2−2 √ t 8. x=
3−t

1 1
4. y= 9. x=
√x t2

3 x−1
5. y=
2 x+ 5
 2y 13. y=cos x
10. x=
y−1
14. y=sin x
11. y=csc x
15. y=tan x
12. y=sec x

Find the slope of the following curve at the given point.

1 1
1. y= ,(2 , )
x 2
4

2. y 2=3 x +1 ,(1,2)

3. y 2=4 x , ( 1,2 )

Problems

1. A right circular cylinder has a fixed height of 6 units. Find the rate of change of its volume V with
respect to the radius r of its base.

2. In problem 1, find the rate of change of the total surface area A with respect to r .

3. The dimensions of a box are b , b+1 , b+ 4. Find how fast the volume increases as b increases.